343 replies to this topic

[DuckNewbie]

Bakersfield Condors president Matt Riley announced Wednesday the Condors have forged an affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.

NBC (KGET) Link

Hmmm...I half called this a week or so ago. Time to go to VEGAS!!!

Wonder if this is a "second" affiliate, or a replacement for Augusta? (Kings claim they will have two next year...mainly to get the Ontario Reign off the ground, I assume). I don't see any reason to have two affiliates.....

[DuckNewbie]

NBC (KGET) Link

Hmmm...I half called this a week or so ago. Time to go to VEGAS!!!

Wonder if this is a "second" affiliate, or a replacement for Augusta? (Kings claim they will have two next year...mainly to get the Ontario Reign off the ground, I assume). I don't see any reason to have two affiliates.....

_____

Found my own answer:

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Augusta Lynx announced that they have ended their affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.

ECHL Link

[Dark Knight]

Already on their website http://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/

[DuckNewbie]

Already on their website <a href="http://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/</a>

I have mixed feelings about stuff like this.

On the one hand, I fully endorse the Ducks supporting local hockey. Good for the Ducks, good for California.

On the other, you have to feel sorry for a team we walked away from. Makes life a little more difficult for the Lynxs.

Now, I have to figure out how to cheer for when the Reign meet the Condors. Too bad Bakersfield isn't exactly in my preferred commuting distance.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Interesting development.

Do Condors float?

(just trying to anticipate Todrick's support )

[wildcat48]

The Lynx will be ok.... They'll secure a new affiliate just like Portland has.

[DropThePuck]

Do Condors float?

Well, it'll be a good training ground against Detroit since Condors do feast on dead things.

[DuckNewbie]

Already on their website <a href="http://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/</a>

Story just went up on the Ducks home page as well.

(And here I was going to chastize them for being so late).

[TroyLoney]

Ducks...Condors...things are beginning to take flight with the entire organization! (insert groan here)

I'm very happy to hear this.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Well, it'll be a good training ground against Detroit since Condors do feast on dead things.

And over-bloated Penguins, too!

[MrsBevo]

The press release just went out at 3:09 to the media and they don't like announcing anything until it has officially been sent out.

Chances are good I will be taking a few road trips to Bakersfield this next year. (Yes, Veca and Baltic Gal, I will happily stop by while I'm in the "neighborhood.")

[Dark Knight]

I've updated our Links page to reflect the new affiliation.

Oh and thanks DuckNewbie for breaking the story

[TroyLoney]

The best part about this is that Ducks fans can go up there on a weekend and get four tickets to a game for less than $100 including parking...and get great seats. The teams are very fan friendly, lots of contests during intermissions and stoppages in play and the games are fun to watch.

Good for the Ducks and I hope they send a few decent prospects down there to give the fans something to watch.

Here's a look at Ducks GM Brian Burke at the press conference to announce the affiliation. The other three people are Jillian Samueli, Condors President Matthew Riley and Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond:

[Todrick]

Interesting development.

Do Condors float?

(just trying to anticipate Todrick's support )

I was just excited it's a bird...

[Still MIGHTY]

Here's a look at Ducks GM Brian Burke at the press conference to announce the affiliation. The other three people are Jillian Samueli, Condors President Matthew Riley and Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond:

Hey Jillian
What you say about us leaving this here coop, eh?
Goin back to the nest to roost?





oh and um
...GO CONDORS!

yeah...

[SacredCow]

The Ducks bringing their ECHL affiliate to California is long overdue and the Condors fans are thrilled because they've been independent for all 10 years they've been in existence and are tired of having other teams get AHL players in the playoffs and kicking their butts as a result. Now Bakersfield has a chance to get some AHL talent for themselves in the postseason and make a run at the Kelly Cup!

I am very familiar with the California franchises of the ECHL and I think this is a great marriage between Bakersfield and the Ducks. I hope the Condors are the Ducks ECHL affiliate for decades to come and that the Ducks play some preseason games in Bakersfield to help get fans in the Central Valley excited about the team and the affiliation...as if they aren't already.

[sugarmama]

I told the hubby "we're going to Bakersfield next season". Yeah, he looked at me like ...until I told him why, then he was on board. I never thought I'd see the day the two of us were excited to go to Bakersfield!

[DropThePuck]

The deal is initially for one year but Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke said he expected the two team to have a long relationship.

<link to article posted in Media Roundup>

[jiggsawpuzzle35rules]

ive been to 5 ice dogs gms before. 3 out of those 5 times ive gotten seats 4 rows from the ice since my gf was a intern with them. even with good seats, i was bored out of my mind. i hope condors hockey is better than ice dog hockey.

[DropThePuck]

Both teams worked on this deal for about 6 months before finalizing it.

<link to article posted in Media Roundup>


News story video also available.

[DropThePuck]

The Ducks ended their two-year relationship with the Georgia-based Augusta Lynx to partner with Bakersfield, which was not previously affiliated with an NHL team. The Condors play in the 9,000-seat Rabobank Arena.

"We're excited about that," Burke said. "We did a one-year affiliation so we can see if it's a good fit. We really like the ownership and the proximity. The building is wonderful."

<link to LAT article posted in Media Roundup>

[DropThePuck]

So what tipped the scales in favor of Bakersfield?

"We started with the ownership group and Jonathan Fleisig and were very comfortable with that, then the management group with Matt (Riley) and the coaches with Marty (Raymond)," Burke said. "Great fan base, great fan support, beautiful facility, great practice rink, proximity to Anaheim and it all added up. There were no negatives.

"This is where we wanted to be and we're thrilled to be here."
...
The Ducks placed seven players in Augusta this season, and Burke said he expected the organization to place five to seven players in Bakersfield.

"We are committed to development," he said. "We think development, spending money and committing coaching resources is very important to our future. We believe winning is a habit you can learn and losing is a habit you can acquire. We are committed to having competitive teams long before those players get to us."

<link to article posted in Media Roundup>

[DropThePuck]

And here's an oldie but a goodie that will likely become part of the Condor family, too, under this new affiliation arrangement -- John Olver. Remember him? Longtime nemesis as coach of the Fresno Falcons and Idaho Steelheads. Some of you may have thrown peanuts at him from the catwalk at the Civic. He's now president of the AHL's Iowa Stars, a likely player in this partnership because with the Ducks comes an AHL affiliation. Whoever that is becomes critical because the pipeline of players runs between it and Bakersfield, with the Ducks pulling all the levers.

<link to article posted in Media Roundup>

[ladiesandgentlemen]

<link to article posted in Media Roundup>

From his dislike of Chris Pronger and grudge against John Olver and his distrust of being affiliated with Iowa, and his "red-letter day" marking as a Kings fan, to his concern about superior player movement and yearn for "Prostate check night", this writer sure has a questionable attitude towards the Ducks and Condors new affiliation.

But hey, welcome to the Ducks there, Andy Kehe!

<link to article posted in Media Roundup>

Much more positive article written by Mike Griffith from The Bakersfield Californian.

[sugarmama]

Burke Interview from Condors website